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World's fastest quadcopter sets official Guinness speed record
Ryan Lademann, left, and friends who came to witness the XLR V3's Guinness-World-Record-setting flight
Ryan Lademann / Guinness
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Ryan Lademann, left, and friends who came to witness the XLR V3's Guinness-World-Record-setting flight
Ryan Lademann / Guinness
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Lademann is tight-lipped at this stage on the chassis design
Quad Star Drones
Racing quadcopters are insanely light, quick and agile, but they're not typically known for their top-speed figures. Mechanical engineer and hobbyist Ryan Lademann builds his own frames to push the limits, and he's now bagged a Guinness World Record.
Lademann's XLR V3 drone, weighing just 490 grams (17.3 oz) looks a little different to most quadcopters, but very much still qualifies as one for record-setting purposes. Where most quads have a flattish brick of a chassis, the XLR's guts are stacked vertically, encased in a bullet-like aerodynamic shell. The motors get their own bullet-like nacelles as well, suspended from the main chassis on slim, low-drag struts.
With these nacelles pointed into the wind for aerodynamics purposes, the props are mounted underneath – so Lademann has built a little stand for the XLR V3 to sit on, and presumably launch from, without damaging the blades. It rises and hovers like a regular quadcopter, but when it's time to go fast, the pilot orients it horizontally and hits the throttle.
Lademann says his custom chassis, internal layout and construction are the secret sauce here; the electronics are off the shelf. That includes a Tattu R-Line 6S LiPo battery pack, Spedix ESCs, Cobra 2207 2450 kv motors, HGLRC Zeus Flight controller and video transmission systems, a Beitian BN-180 GPS, a Caddx Ant FPV camera and APC 5.2 x 6.0 props. Indeed, he helpfully links out to all these components from his project website, and at current prices you could buy all the electronic components for this drone for US$400 – including a set of $120 FPV goggles.
Quad Star Drones
In order to set an official world record, the quad had to be flown in two opposite directions back to back to negate any wind assistance, with altitude kept level to negate any gravity assistance. Peak speed means nothing; each pass's speed is recorded as the average speed over at least a 100-m (328-ft) distance, and then the two opposing direction speeds are averaged for the final number.
Last November, Lademann, a professional witness and a small group of other enthusiasts gathered in Scottsdale, Arizona as the XLR V3 set a new Guinness world quadcopter speed record, at 224 mph (360.503 km/h). On an earlier flight, he recorded an instantaneous max speed of 257.25 mph (414 km/h).
Check out a short video below; it's not exactly Hollywood-grade to look at, since the drone is a fair way off the ground, the FPV camera is a tiny analog unit, and the ground camera is so far away that the quad barely registers on the screen. But it's an official world record, and the culmination of a project Lademann started way back in 2016.
Over to you, rest of the drone world – can you beat that?
Guinness World Record: World's Fastest Quadcopter Drone
Source: Quad Star Drones / Guinness World Records
As a seasoned drone enthusiast and expert with a deep understanding of the quadcopter landscape, I'm thrilled to delve into the groundbreaking achievement highlighted in the article about the world's fastest quadcopter. My knowledge extends beyond mere surface details, providing a comprehensive understanding of the concepts involved.
Firstly, let's break down the key components and concepts mentioned in the article:
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Ryan Lademann's XLR V3 Quadcopter:
- Weight: The drone weighs a remarkable 490 grams (17.3 oz), showcasing the significance of lightweight design in achieving high speeds.
- Chassis Design: Unlike traditional quadcopters with a flat chassis, the XLR V3 features a unique design with vertically stacked internals, enclosed in a bullet-like aerodynamic shell. This design choice contributes to its exceptional speed.
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Aerodynamics and Propulsion:
- Nacelles: The motors have bullet-like nacelles suspended from the main chassis on slim, low-drag struts. These nacelles are pointed into the wind to enhance aerodynamics.
- Propeller Placement: In a departure from the norm, the props are mounted underneath the drone. This requires a special stand for takeoff to prevent damage to the blades. The horizontal orientation during high-speed flight is a strategic move to optimize aerodynamic efficiency.
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Electronics and Components:
- Battery: The drone uses a Tattu R-Line 6S LiPo battery pack, emphasizing the critical role of power density in achieving high speeds.
- ESC (Electronic Speed Controllers): Spedix ESCs are employed, highlighting the importance of precise motor control for performance.
- Motors: Cobra 2207 2450 kv motors play a pivotal role in the quadcopter's propulsion system, showcasing the significance of high-performance motor specifications.
- Flight Controller: The HGLRC Zeus Flight controller is a key component for stable and responsive flight, underscoring the importance of advanced flight control systems.
- Other Electronics: The drone also incorporates a Beitian BN-180 GPS, a Caddx Ant FPV camera, and APC 5.2 x 6.0 props. The mention of off-the-shelf electronics emphasizes the role of customization in achieving record-setting performance.
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World Record Setting:
- Official Guinness World Record: To establish the quadcopter's speed record officially, it had to fly in two opposite directions to eliminate wind assistance. Speed measurements were taken over a 100-meter distance for each pass, and the average of the two opposing direction speeds was considered for the final record. The meticulous approach to record-setting includes maintaining level altitude to negate gravity assistance.
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Recorded Speeds:
- Peak Speed: An instantaneous maximum speed of 257.25 mph (414 km/h) was recorded in an earlier flight.
- Official Record: The official Guinness World Record for quadcopter speed was set at an impressive 224 mph (360.503 km/h) in Scottsdale, Arizona.
This achievement, documented since 2016 and realized through meticulous design and testing, showcases not only the capabilities of the XLR V3 but also the potential for innovation and advancement within the drone community. The article invites the broader drone community to step up and attempt to surpass this remarkable feat, setting the stage for future breakthroughs in drone technology.
